Language Learning and Intercultural Communicative Competence: An Action Research Case Study of Learners of Portuguese

This paper is the intermediary report of an ongoing case study into the learning of a new foreign language (Portuguese) from beginner's level by first-year students at the Faculty of Foreign Languages, National Research Tomsk State University. Adopting an action research approach, with the teaching staff and learners as co-participants, the study focuses on the first year of teaching a new foreign language, examining pedagogical practice and learner motivation. The results of the study emphasize the importance of learning through communication and culture, enabling learners to identify with both the target language and culture, while making use of a wide range of foreign language learning activities.